Amid opposition protests, the Balochistan Assembly passes a bill prohibiting child marriage.

A crucial step toward reducing underage weddings in the province was taken on Friday when the Balochistan Assembly passed the “Balochistan Child Marriage Prohibition Bill” by a majority vote.

Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai presided over the meeting where Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar introduced the measure.

However, the opposition members fiercely opposed the bill, calling it “un-Islamic” and asserting that it was hastily prepared.

On the floor, a number of opposition MPAs fiercely protested, tearing up copies of the measure and using disparaging language.

Younus Zahri, the opposition’s leader, announced that the opposition would file a lawsuit, claiming that the law was “inappropriate” and went against religious and cultural norms.

The House passed the bill with a resounding majority in spite of the controversy.

Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti defended the government’s stance on the House floor, pointing out that the National Assembly and other provincial assemblies had already passed legislation of a similar nature.

Although the government acknowledged the opposition’s opinions, he emphasized that it had the constitutional right to enact laws.

Later, the meeting was postponed until Monday.